Boise State’s dream season included their first national ranking in Division I, their first Western Athletic Conference championship and memories that will last forever for the 19 seniors on the team.

The Broncos established themselves with the most potent offense in the nation, averaging more than 500 yards per game, and did it after their starting quarterback suffered a serious injury in the second game of the season. They finished the regular season with an 11-1 overall record and an 8-0 mark in conference play.

Here’s a look at how the 2002 season played out for Boise State:

Sept. 8

Arkansas 41, Boise State 14

In just the second quarter of the second game of the season, Boise State lost their starting quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie to a broken ankle. Arkansas took advantage of the misfortune and had seven sacks in the first half, opening up a 24-0 lead by halftime.

Boise State’s first two possessions of the second half ended in fumbles and the Razorbacks built a 34-0 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Razorbacks got 255 rushing yards as a team and converted seven Boise State turnovers into 24 points.

The Broncos were able to score on two fourth quarter touchdown passes from backup B.J. Rhode, who was 18-of-29 for 231 yards in his first action of the season.

The Broncos slipped to 1-1.

Sept. 28

Boise State 63,

Utah State 38

Rhode had a coming out party against the Aggies as he was 17-of-28 for 376 yards as the Broncos moved to 3-1.

In just the third start of his career, Rhode tossed five touchdown passes, including 57 and 67-yard strikes to Jay Swille. His fifth TD pass was a 63-yarder to Billy Wingfield.

Jose Fuentes led Utah State with 297 passing yards and two touchdowns, but was picked off twice by Bronco defenders. Both led to Bosie State touchdowns, as did two first half Utah State fumbles.

Oct. 18

Boise State 67,

Fresno State 21

Playing in front of a national ESPN audience for the first time against an a opponent one year removed from an 11-3 season didn’t seem to bother Boise State, as they pounded Fresno State behind a school-record 688 yards of total offense.

In Dinwiddie’s first game back from a broken ankle, he completed 19 of 22 passes for 406 yards as the Broncos scored more than 50 points for the fourth straight game. Brock Forsey shouldered the load on the ground with 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The senior said it was a courageous effort by Dinwiddie.

“The guy came back and did an awesome job playing with pins and plates in his ankle,” Forsey said. “It was just a testament of how tough he is.”

Rhode, who had led Boise State to four straight victories after Dinwiddie’s injury, started the game, but gave way to Dinwiddie after leading the Broncos to a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter. Lou Fanucchi was on the receiving end of one of Dinwiddie’s touchdown passes and caught a total of eight passes for 178 yards. Wingfield was close behind with 146 yards on seven catches

The Bulldogs were hurt with three interceptions in their own territory. Fresno State turned it over twice in the fourth quarter and both led to Boise State touchdowns, but it was already 40-14 at that point.

At that time, the crowd of 30,924 was the largest to ever watch a sporting event in Idaho.

Oct. 26

Boise State 45,

San Jose State 8

It was the Boise State defense that made a statement against San Jose State, despite rolling to 650 yards of total offense en route to their sixth straight win.

“I’m very proud of our defense,” head coach Dan Hawkins said. “To shut those guys out for three quarters of that game was impressive.”

The Broncos moved to 7-1 and 4-0 in the WAC with help from Dinwiddie and Forsey. The junior quarterback passed for 356 yards and Forsey ran for 168 yards and four touchdowns. His second score of the first quarter extended the Boise State lead to 21-0. Forsey added a 36-yard run for another touchdown in the fourth quarter making it 38-0 Broncos.

San Jose State’s lone touchdown came on a 27-yard pass from Scott Rislov to Jamall Broussard with 6:52 left to play.

The Boise State defense gave up 256 passing yards to Rislov for the game, but it took him 52 pass attempts. Eight of San Jose State’s scoreless drives were held to three plays or less.

Nov. 2

Boise State 58, UTEP 3

Forsey went over the 1,000 yard barrier for the second straight season with 114 yards and three touchdowns, sending the Broncos to a dominating victory over UTEP.

“I try to run downhill. If I see the crease, I try to hit it as quick as possible before it closes,” Forsey said after the game. “Fortunately, I saw a lot of creases tonight.”

UTEP got 111 rushing yards from Sherman Austin, but the aerial attack was limited to just 46 yards. Three UTEP quarterbacks were picked off a total of four times. Boise State shut out the Miners after Keith Robinson’s field goal with 4:02 left in the first quarter made it 7-3 Boise State. The Broncos reeled off 51 straight points after that to remain atop the WAC standings.

“Our defense always seems to get outshined by our offense, but they played their hearts out tonight,” Wingfield said. “I’m really proud of them. It was total domination.”

Nov. 23

Boise State 44, Nevada 7

Boise State wrapped up the WAC championship in style by pounding Nevada on the road.

Forsey outgained Nevada’s whole team as he for 187 yards and four more touchdowns as the No. 23 Broncos celebrated their first appearance in The Associated Press national rankings.

The Broncos all but shut down Nevada’s offense, limiting it to just 163 total yards.

Forsey, who ended the regular season as the nation’s leading scorer with 29 touchdowns, gave credit to the Bronco defense after the game. “They’ve been doing awesome against the run and really shutting down receivers,” Forsey said. “Those guys got some big turnovers and put our offense in really good position.”

Nevada’s Nate Burleson, the nation’s leading receiver had seven catches for 71 yards to lead the Wolf Pack, but the Boise State defense held him without a reception until the third quarter.

— The Associated Press contributed to this story.